This whole aspect of wisdom has been around for millennia. Even prior to King Solomon with whom we attribute the wisest person ever; we know that wisdom literature has been around since Mesopotamia and Egypt ~2,500 BC. History would tell us that King Shuruppak (Suruppak) of Mesopotamia issued proverbs that possibly influenced Biblical proverbs written centuries later. Wisdom literature in the Bible is in three books – Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. The apocrypha also have the Book of Wisdom (Solomon) and Sirach.
Wisdom literature can take various forms, such as poems, instructions, pithy sayings, and other dialogues. Many are instructions on how to live. According to one source, “Wisdom was there from the beginning with God and was given to humans by God.” (www.biblewise.com). As Christians, we are all aware that Wisdom is one of the many names for God himself. Proverbs 8:12 says, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.” The New Testament (“N. T.”) also refers to God as the only wise God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Many would relate to King Solomon as the “wise king of Israel,” and perhaps the wisest of all times, says 1 Kings. Yes, Solomon assumed the throne from his father, David, who was the warrior king. Solomon was the one who was to build a permanent house for the LORD (the first temple). Like his father, Solomon reigned as Israel’s king for 40 years from 970 – 931 BC. But his beginning was anything but smooth. I Kings tells us that Absalom’s brother (Adonijab) was named as king to succeed his father without David’s approval. God continues to be in control and saw to it that Solomon was anointed as the successor to his father. Solomon was a young man when he assumed the throne. I Kings 3:5ff says, “the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’” Solomon, in God’s wisdom, asked for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong. Wow!
This wisdom carried forward in his reign over God’s people, Israel. But lest we miss his father’s dying declaration to his son, Solomon, let us re-hash his words:
- Be strong
- Show yourself a man
- Observe what the LORD God requires
- Walk in His ways
- Keep His decrees/commands. (I Kings 2:2ff)
You can read or re-read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and see how David’s last dying instructions to his son were manifested in many of Solomon’s statements of wisdom. For instance, “Wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.” (Eccl 7:12b) and “Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl 12:13). If we digress back to David’s five-fold list of instructions, we can see that Solomon did indeed abide by his father’s instructions. And God’s statement in I Kings 3-4 is absolutely true! At least for awhile!
During Solomon’s reign, Jerusalem was transformed into an international city of commerce. David and Solomon’s influence in Israel and beyond were overwhelming.
The author(s) of the Book of Proverbs are more than just Solomon by most sources, but King Solomon was indeed one of the primary sources. The LORD’s wisdom was before creation, but Solomon says, “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His work.” (Prov. 8:22). I have a note in my Bible which shows a triangle that connects wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Wisdom (1:7 and 3:19ff); Knowledge (9:10); and Understanding (16:22).
Yes, wisdom was passed on to a son. And this lesson of David to his son Solomon is key to us today as we too seek Wisdom in the Son of God who came, who died, and who rose again for our justification. The Wisdom of God is passed along to you and me in our baptism into the faith that makes us justified by the grace of God through His Son. Amen and Amen!
In closing, I am reminded of a situation many years ago when my boss (and good friend in Christ) said to me, “Here, (and he threw me a book of Proverbs), read a chapter a day every month.” (Ethan Jackson). To this day, our friendship in the LORD is based on the Wisdom of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who was ordained to be our salvation as sin separated us from the love of God. To God be the glory.
In closing, I pray that my wife and I have witnessed our faith in Jesus Christ to our children and grandchildren such that they will never waiver from a life in Christ, the Savior of the world.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
